Page 13 of The Road to Cavan Town
Perhaps men weren’t the only ones who clung to foolish notions.
’Twas something of a shame to mar the fresh, untouched layer of snow with her trudging footsteps. So few things in life worked out neat and tidy.
She passed the church where Isaac would be attending services.
And if I must be passed over for something, I suppose church on a Christmas morning isn’t so bad a thing.
Alice turned her face into the light wind and continued on her way. The miles back toward Killeshandra would not be pleasant, that was quite sure and certain. Some other poor traveler was but a few streets ahead of her, braving the same elements.
She held her coat closer to her with her gloved hands. Perhaps if she thought hard on the blankets and the warm fire in the kitchen hearth in the farmhouse at the end of that long road she’d not feel the chill quite so deep and acute. If nothing else, the anticipation quickened her steps.
She quickly came up even with her fellow traveler. He, apparently, hadn’t a sufficient imagination to push him onward.
Alice set her mind to offering him an encouraging smile and a Christmas greeting as she passed by. A person ought to receive at least that when alone on a morning such as that one. No sooner had she reached the stranger’s side, than he spoke.
“Have ya a friend to walk around Lough Oughter with ya?”
Her gaze immediately jumped to his face. “Isaac?”
He didn’t look at her, but kept his eyes trained ahead. “Might I make the journey back with ya?”
She didn’t answer right off, but continued walking in confused silence. She’d not at all expected to see him on the road.
“Why is it ye’re not in church this morning? I’ve never known ya to miss services. And on Christmas Day of all days.” ’Twas more shocking the longer she thought on it.
He finally looked at her, but his expression was one of apprehension. “I didn’t know when ye’d be passing by, and I didn’t dare risk missing ya. I’ve been out here some time already.”
“Out here? In this weather?” Heavens, the man must have been near frozen.
Alice opened her satchel as they continued walking, digging through her meager belongings until she found the woolen scarf her cousin had knitted for her. She’d kept it tucked away should she need more bundling during the walk home. But one look at Isaac’s red nose and bare neck made up her mind on that score.
He was still clearly unsure of himself. Did he think she disliked him? That she didn’t want him about? He’d been thick-headed and stubborn, but love doesn’t fly away for such reasons as that.
“Come, then,” she instructed, sopping and motioning him closer to her.
She began wrapping the scarf about his neck.
“I can’t take yer scarf, Alice. Suppose ya need it yer own self?”
She shook her head. “I’ve a warm one on already. Now ya just take this and don’t make a great fuss over it.”
He held quite still as she finished wrapping and tying. Alice’s heart pounded clear into her fingertips. Except for the occasional moment when he helped her over a muddy bit of road or bumped against her on accident, they’d never really touched.Yet, wrapping her scarf about his neck, her hands brushed against him. She felt the tiny moment of contact clear to her very soul. She gazed up to find his eyes locked with her own.
They stood there at the very edge of Cavan Town directly on the road leading away, simply looking at one another. Each breath they took fogged the air between them.
“I’ve been a fool, Alice,” Isaac whispered.
“Have ya now?” Her voice emerged even quieter than his.
His hand lightly touched her cheek, just inside the brim of her bonnet. Such a look of sad regret weighed down his handsome face. “I’m too stubborn by half, ya know. And when my mind’s set to something I don’t always heed the world about me. I miss a great many important things that way.”
For the first time in some weeks, Alice’s heart smiled along with her lips. “Yaareterrible stubborn, Isaac Dancy.”
His eyes slid over her smiling face and some of the heaviness left his expression. His hand slid from her face to her shoulder, down to her arm and took hold of her hand. “I hope, Alice, ye’re every bit as forgiving as I am dimwitted.”
“I’m a woman.” She shrugged. “We’ve had to be forgiving since time began.”
“And, speaking of which.” He set something in her free hand.
